Painted Armoire...

Hi Everyone!  I'm almost ready for the Holiday Open House this weekend.  I just have a little cleaning to do and then I'll be ready.  One of the things on my to do list for the Open House was to paint the armoire in my studio.

 This is the only picture of it that I could find.  It's a nice big, heavy, pine piece that I use to store supplies in, but I hate that orange color.  I've been meaning to paint it all year and finally got it done.

 I painted it with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White and Louis Blue.

 I lightly sanded it but didn't want to reveal too much of that orange wood.

The details look great (much better in person).  And now it fits in with the studio so much better than the orange did.  How would you have painted it?

I have so much to share with you of the Studio so look for lots of pictures after this weekend.  The Studio is full and decorated for Christmas.  So if you're in the area this weekend, stop by and say hello! Thanks for stopping by.

Linking to:
http://www.myrepurposedlife.com/2013/11/catch-as-catch-can-138.html
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2013/11/anything-blue-friday-week-33.html 
http://missmustardseed.com/2013/11/furniture-feature-friday-favorites-link-party-15/

Painted buffet....

Hi Everyone!  It's beginning to look like Christmas...in my Studio.  I spent the weekend rearranging the studio to accommodate all the furniture that has been out in the shop in anticipate of my upcoming Open House.  But before I got to far into it, I decided I had better get the buffet painted that I purchased at the auction this summer.  The before picture...

 I loved this piece as soon as I saw it advertised for the auction...but I didn't love the orange color.

 I still can't believe I was the winning bidder on this piece.  I brought it home and it's been sitting in the studio, untouched, ever since.  Until Friday night that is....

 I love the legs!  They are gorgeous!

 And the details are incredible!

 I painted it in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White.  I distressed it lightly.

 I love how the paint brought out the details....

 ...and I was able to reuse the hardware...I just cleaned them up a bit.

As soon as it was painted, it just made me smile.  I think it looks so much better this way.  What do you think?  Would you distress it a bit more?...or leave it lightly distressed?  And even though I love it, it will be for sale at my Open House on November 9th and 10th.  Thanks for stopping by.

Linking to:
http://www.alderberryhill.com/make-the-scene-monday-98/
http://knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/2013/10/knick-of-time-tuesday-110-vintage.html
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/2013/10/201st-power-paint-party.html
http://madeinaday.com/2013/10/31/made-u-look-linky-91/
http://startathome.blogspot.com/2013/10/furniture-and-paint-party-21.html
http://www.myrepurposedlife.com/2013/10/catch-as-catch-can-137.html
http://missmustardseed.com/2013/10/furniture-feature-friday-favorites-link-part/

Bench in Paris Grey....

Hi Everyone!  My two-day fair is this weekend.  I've gotten everything set up and ready to go and we did it in record time.  Now I just need a good nights sleep because tomorrow will be a long day.  So tonight I thought I'd show one of the benches I took to the fair.

I love how this bench turned out.  My mom picked it up at a used furniture shop for me.

  I love the lines on it.  And it's one heavy dude!  I think it's solid walnut.

I painted it first with a coat of black primer.  I wanted black to show through when I sanded it back especially on the new wood.

I painted it with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Paris Grey.  I love Paris Grey!  It is my favorite color.

I sanded it to reveal the black and wood through the Paris Grey.  I upholstered the seat in drop cloth.  I love the way it turned out.  Now I'm going to play with the dogs a bit and then go to bed early!  Tomorrow will be a long day.  What are your plans for the weekend?  Make it great.  Thanks for stopping by!

Linking to:
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/2013/09/196th-power-paint-party-popp.html

A pedestal table...

Hi Everyone!  While I have been busy getting ready for the fair this weekend, one of the items that I had been working on was a gift for a client to give to his brother and sister-in-law (who happen to be my boss) as a house warming gift.  I had finished up the gift about two weeks ago, but had to wait to share it with you until now.

I wasn't given any instructions on what to make, just something for their new house, so I made them a pedestal table.  I actually found the base at a used furniture store in really rough shape. 

I refurbished it and installed new levers on the base.

I built a new top and support for the top to get it to the right height.

After sanding everything really well, I painted it with a base coat of black and then topped it off with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White.

Then sanded, waxed and buffed it.

And then I set it outside for beauty shots hoping the new owners (who live up the road from me) wouldn't drive by while I had it outside the shop.  The chair doesn't go with it, I just pulled one out of my studio for pictures.  I am really happy with the way this turned out as was my client.  And I hope the new owners are happy with it too.

I have just a few more items to finish up for the fair this weekend and then it is just a matter of picking up and loading the trailer.  I will be sure to take pictures to share with you next week what I've been up to.  Thanks for stopping by.

Linking to:
http://madeinaday.com/2013/09/19/made-u-look-linky-85
http://www.redouxinteriors.com/2013/09/link-party-122-and-les-features 
http://www.lizmarieblog.com/2013/09/inspire-me-please-linky-party-29/ 
http://missmustardseed.com/2013/09/furniture-feature-friday-favorites-link-party-11/ 
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/09/wow-us-wednesdays-137.html 
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/2013/09/196th-power-paint-party-popp.html 

Dresser remade...

Hi Everyone!  I finally completed this dresser remake that started two weekends ago.  I picked up this bow front dresser at my first auction, here's what it looked like when I got it.

 I had a vision for it as soon as I saw it at the auction but it had a really bad paint job.

 So I used CitriStrip to remove five layers of paint and varnish.  In fact, it took me two days, half of a large jug to strip the top and three drawer faces and then 7 sanding discs to clean up the wood.

 As you can see in this picture, I painted the insides and the sides of the drawers before I stripped the top and then touched up the Wildflower blue paint before I stained the drawer fronts.  I also had to do a little repair on the drawers.

 This is what I ended up with and how I got there.

 I painted the body of the dresser in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Paris Grey and stained the top and three drawer fronts in a custom mix stain.  I wanted the wood stained really dark.

 Then I waxed the body and the top in both clear and dark wax and buffed it.

 I could have just added the pulls and this point and I would have been happy with it, but I had a vision for it before I started so I moved the whole thing into the Studio for the next step.  I really love the contrast between the Paris Grey and the dark wood.

 But I like it even more once I hand painted this floral and vine graphic onto the drawer fronts using white craft paint. 

 I put all three drawers together and drew the graphic on with chalk and then painted it on using white paint.  I also put a coat of antique medium on the sides of the drawers to tone down the Wildflower blue on the sides. 

 I picked up some new pulls that were brass and wood so I primed them in grey primer spray paint and then hand painted them in ASCP in Paris Grey to match the body of the dresser.  Then I lightly sanded them and sprayed them with a sealer.

 These drawer pulls look better than the 70's style pulls that were on it.

I really like the way this turned out.  But shortly after I took the pictures I added a little more vine and swirls to the drawer fronts to finish it off.  And I like it even better.  I still have to wax the drawer fronts but the paint needs to set a little more.  I like the contrast between the masculine look of the wood and the grey and the feminine of the white floral graphic.  What would you have done with the dresser?  Thanks for stopping by!

Linking to:
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/2013/08/show-me-what-ya-got-134.html 
http://theshadyporch.blogspot.com/2013/08/rock-n-share-55.html 
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/2013/08/181st-power-of-paint-party-popp-2.html 
http://startathome.blogspot.com/2013/08/furniture-paint-party.html 
http://staceyembracingchange.com/2013/08/22/creative-inspirations-linky-party-50/ 
http://madeinaday.com/2013/08/22/made-u-look-linky-81 
http://www.redouxinteriors.com/2013/08/link-party-119-and-a-paint-brush-giveaway 
http://www.myrepurposedlife.com/2013/08/catch-as-catch-can-134.html 
http://www.504main.com/2013/08/tickled-pink-times-two-no-2.html 
http://missmustardseed.com/2013/08/furniture-feature-friday-link-party-favorites-8/ 
http://diy-vintage-chic.blogspot.com/2013/08/fridays-five-features-no-5.html 
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2013/08/diy-rustic-shelving-ideas.html 
http://www.alderberryhill.com/make-the-scene-monday-89 
http://knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/2013/08/knick-of-time-tuesday-101.html 
http://www.livelaughrowe.com/fabulous-furniture-makeovers-live-laugh-linky-76 
http://www.craftionary.net/2013/08/friday-link-party-79.html 

A little blue stool...

Hi Everyone!  Happy Monday!  I had a busy weekend.  I spent Saturday working on the desk I'm making for  some friends and I'm close to finishing it.  Yeah!  But I'm not ready to show it to you yet.  I did finish one project.  I made a little stool.

 Two years ago I took that little red stand and repurposed a portion of it into a footstool for my mom (you can read about that here).

 I cut it apart and used the top to make mom's footstool.

 And the base has been sitting on a shelf in the shop ever since, just waiting for me to do something with it.

 I added a center support to it and sanded a couple of the legs that had a little damage on it.

 Then I cut a 1x4" down to four boards for the top and used my biscuit joiner to attach them.

 I clamped them together to dry.....

 ...and then attached the new top to the base.

 I painted the base in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Louis Blue and the top in Old White.

 I sanded the edges to reveal the red...

 ...and waxed it with both clear and dark wax.

 I really like the way the red shows through and the aging on the top.

It's a cute stool that can be used as a footstool.  I have made several of these for my mom and she uses them to give height to an arrangement or a birdhouse or a plant or a basket filled with blankets or magazines...so many uses for it.  Too many uses to count.  What would you use it for?  Have a great week everyone!  Thanks for stopping by.

Linking to:
http://www.kammyskorner.com/2013/07/trash-2-treasure-tuesday-link-party_22.html
http://missmustardseed.com/2013/07/furniture-feature-friday-link-party-lauras-picks/ 
http://www.lizmarieblog.com/2013/07/inspire-me-please-weekend-linky-party-21/ 
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2013/07/party-junk-197-a-diy-link-party.html 
http://www.alderberryhill.com/make-the-scene-monday-85 
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/07/wow-us-wednesdays-129.html 
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/2013/07/188th-power-of-paint-party-popp.html 
http://startathome.blogspot.com/2013/07/link-party-8.html 
http://madeinaday.com/2013/08/01/made-u-look-linky-79/ 
http://www.myrepurposedlife.com/2013/08/catch-as-catch-can-131.html 

Antique stool remake...

Hi Everyone!  It has been hot here...no rain lately, but now that the hay has been baled, we need rain and soon.  I hope your weather has been better than it has been here.  Today I thought I'd show you the remake of the antique stool I showed you here that I picked up at the junk store this weekend for $2.00.  I just couldn't pass it up for that price.  It needed a little bit of work but I think it turned out cute.  Here's the before....

 It needed to be cleaned up and painted because it had an odor to it..I cleaned it and painting helped get rid of the offensive odor.

  And here it is painted in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Paris Grey and Old White.

 I sanded it and waxed it with clear wax and then buffed it.  I upholstered the seat in a cream linen....

 .... that matched the Old White I used on the feet.  I thought adding the pop of Old White on the feet helped tie the fabric into the piece.

I had to add a cross piece on the inside to give it more stability but you can still slide something under the board to store.  I painted the inside and the underside to kill the smell and it really did do the trick.

The before picture again....

 I'm really happy with the way it turned out.....

I'm on a Paris Grey and Old White kick right now...two of my favorite colors...I'll change it up soon, I promise.  Thanks for stopping by.

Linking:
http://www.myrepurposedlife.com/2013/07/catch-as-catch-can-130.html 
http://www.lizmarieblog.com/2013/07/inspire-me-please-linky-party-20/ 
http://missmustardseed.com/2013/07/furniture-feature-friday-link-party-say-hello-to/ 
http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/2013/07/party-junk-196-a-diy-link-party.html 
http://too-much-time.com/2013/07/get-schooled-saturday-85.html 
http://www.twiggstudios.com/2013/07/sunday-show-off-linky-party_20.html 
http://www.alderberryhill.com/make-the-scene-monday-84 
http://www.uncommondesignsonline.com/10-diy-room-projects-monday-funday-link-party-27 
http://www.homemakeronadime.com/2013/07/creative-bloggers-party-hop-120.html 
http://knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/2013/07/knick-of-time-tuesday-96.html 
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/07/wow-us-wednesdays-128.html 
http://theshadyporch.blogspot.com/2013/07/rock-n-share-51.html 
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/2013/07/187th-power-of-paint-party-popp.html 
http://www.southernlovely.com/2013/07/show-share-102.html 
http://startathome.blogspot.com/2013/07/paint-party-7.html 
http://staceyembracingchange.com/2013/07/25/creative-inspirations-linky-party-47/ 
http://madeinaday.com/2013/07/25/made-u-look-linky-78/ 
http://www.redouxinteriors.com/2013/07/link-party-114-and-le-fabulous-features/ 
http://www.504main.com/2013/07/tickled-pink-no-153.html